Being a Good Citizen

Manners, Grace and Social Harmony

Citizenship

• What is a citizen?– Rights– Duties– Responsibilities

• What is social harmony?

• What is grace?

What is a citizen?

• A citizen is an individual with certain rights and duties under a government and who, by birth or by choice, owes, allegiance to that government.

• Another word for allegiance is loyalty.

Rights and Responsibilities

• We depend on others in the communities to fulfill our needs.

• Joel Westheimer and Joseph Kahne (2004) describe three types of citizen:

Personally Responsible Citizen

• A personally responsible citizen has:– honesty– responsibility – respect for the law

Participatory Citizen

• as above but also believes that:– understanding government– voting in elections– volunteering in the community

are important traits

Justice Oriented Citizen

• As above but also:– fights for the rights of under-privileged– often willing to suffer personal harm in

their fight for justice– sometimes lose focus on wider society

and means to create change

Qualities of a Responsible Citizen

• Obeys the law / respects authority• Contributes to society and community / performs civic

duty• Loves his/her country – patriotism• Courtesy and respects the rights of others• Trust worthy and Honesty• Tolerance• Accountability• Moral Courage• Responsibility• Self-Discipline

Qualities of a Responsible Citizen

• Rights: things we can do because of law

• Duties: things we MUST do because of law

• Responsibilities: things we should do

Qualities of a Responsible Citizen

Using the sheet provided,

Label each activity in the

list as either a:• Right• Duty• Responsibility

A Global Citizen

• Is aware of the wider world• Has a sense of their own role as a world

citizen• Respects and values diversity

A Global Citizen has understanding of how the world works:

• Economically• Politically• Socially• Culturally• Technologically• Environmentally

A Global Citizen

• Is outraged by social injustice• Participates and contributes to community• Is willing to make the world a more

sustainable place• Takes responsibility for their actions• Celebrates diversity• Recognizes that they can

CREATE CHANGE

Social Harmony

People of all faiths, ages, nationalities or colours living peacefully in mutual trust as a society, is social harmony.

Concept dates back to ancient China.

Confucius / Confucianism

Social Harmony

Family is the basic unit of society:

A peaceful and harmonious family built upon 'Family Ethics' is the most fundamental component of a peaceful modern society.

Children

Parents

Love / Devotion

• Selfishness• Hatred• Poverty

Social Harmony

Sources of

Chaos / Conflict

"By giving (others) freedom from fear, hostility and oppression, he himself will enjoy freedom from fear, hostility and oppression."

- The Buddha

Social Harmony

Four Divine Abodes

loving kindness

compassion

altruistic joy

equanimity

Grace

• Seemingly effortless beauty or charm of movement, form, or proportion.

• A characteristic or quality pleasing for its charm or refinement.

• A sense of fitness or propriety.• A disposition to be generous or helpful;

goodwill.

Now,

Let’s look at your groups……